Rugby sevens will likely be retained as an Olympic sport until at least 2024 after its debut in last year's Rio Games.

The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) executive board announced the decision on Saturday June 10th, 2017 (NZ time) for all 28 sports that featured in 2016 to remain for the 2024 Olympic Games program.

An IOC session in Lima, Peru in September will consider the board's recommendation and World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said the news was exciting as sevens hopes to cements its status as an Olympic sport.